Health And Wellness Trends To Watch In Spring 2017

With new superfoods and alternative health products popping up in the media every day, it’s hard to know what the cleanest, most effective product innovations really are. Dr. Jeremy Wolf N.D., Lead Wellness Advisor at LuckyVitamin.com, breaks down the trends and how to be a savvy wellness shopper this spring.

Coconut

Everyone is still going cuckoo for coconuts. What may have started as a health trend with using coconut oil for cooking has now turned into a coconut takeover. In today’s market, it seems as if there is no part of the coconut that can’t be used. One of the newest trends for coconuts are coconut wraps. By using the white meaty part of the coconut, coconut wraps offer a vegan, gluten-free and Paleo friendly alternative to traditional wraps. NUCO now featured on LuckyVitamin offers a USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher and raw coconuts wrap to replace traditional bread and tortillas. But it wouldn’t be much of a trend if the uses for coconuts stopped there. While traditional coconut products continue to sell, new coconut products can now be found such as coconut vinegar salad dressings, coconut sugar, coconut aminos, coconut flour and even coconut butter. So why the coconut craze? Coconuts are a healthy alternative to some of the most commonly used foods. They are a rich source of dietary fats, vitamins, fiber electrolytes, enzymes and amino acids.

The Ketogenic Diet

Similar to the Atkins diet, although much stricter, the Ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein and low-carbohydrate diet. The diet was first designed in 1924 by Dr. Russell Wilder and is commonly used as a treatment for children or individuals with epilepsy. However, many researchers are starting to look at the use of the ketogenic diet for disorders other than epilepsy. This includes other neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, migraines and autism. Like the Atkins diet, it too is also in the spotlight for its weight loss potential. New research has shown on top of weight loss, following a ketogenic diet may also help decrease total cholesterol, increase HDL (the “good”) cholesterol, lower LDL (the “bad”), decrease triglycerides and lower blood sugar levels. Even professional athletes and endurance athletes are catching on to this popular diet. The diet works by forcing the body into a state of ketosis. Ketosis is the result of ketones building up in the bloodstream when people eat a low- or no-carbohydrate diet. Because the body can’t use glucose for energy, fat becomes the primary fuel source. The diet isn’t as simple as just cutting back on carbohydrates; there are specific calculations that go into figuring out the right percentage of fat to protein to carbohydrate ratio. LuckyVitamin’s new ketogenic specialty page is designed to help support your ketogenic diet needs. It’s important to note that you should be under the care of a trained health care provider during this diet or at least in the beginning.

Cannabidiol

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in public awareness for the possible health benefits of cannabidiol or CBD. CBD is one of at least 85 cannabinoids found in cannabis and is the major non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa. CBD interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system. This system is thought to play a key role in memory, mood brain reward systems and certain metabolic processes. Possible therapeutic uses for CBD include anxiety, nausea prevention, pain management, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, cancer and more. But how can makers of CBD oil legally sell CBD in the United States when marijuana is illegal? Enter, hemp. The difference in hemp and marijuana lies in the fact that hemp is a low resin, low THC, high CBD form of cannabis. Currently, there are a wide variety of CBD hemp oil extracts products available including pure oils, dark chocolates, gummies and even chewing gum.

Athleisure

What happens when you combine the comfort and convenience of workout clothes with the style and fashion? You get athleisure. Athleisure is a trend in fashion in which individuals wear clothing intended for workouts and other athletic activities in other settings, such as during work as well as casual or social occasions. It has become one of the biggest trends in the fashion and retail industry today and it continues to grow and expand into new venues and marketplaces. LuckyVitamin carries a large selection of fitness apparel for both men and women from top brands such as Chaser, Purusha People, Soybu, Manduka and Teeki. Many of these brands offer products that are not just beneficial to you but incorporate materials such as fair trade cotton and recycled plastic that are also beneficial to the environment.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms belong to a unique group of organisms called fungi. While new mushroom trends are emerging in the health and wellness industry, the health promoting benefits of mushrooms are well-known and have been around for a long time. For thousands of years mushrooms have been known to be both nutritious and immune building, and now modern research is beginning to validate traditional herbalists beliefs about mushrooms. Mushrooms are a natural source of vitamin D precursors, contain proteins, minerals and are packed with polysaccharides like beta-glucans which have immune-boosting effects. For years traditional mushroom supplements and extracts have been available, but new trends are popping up everywhere. The new products include mushroom powder, elixir mixes, coffee and hot chocolate all with the same added benefits. LuckyVitamin has a large selection of all the mushrooms products you need to help you be a fun-gi or fun-gal.

Collagen

Nutrition is a key factor for influencing skin health and its overall appearance. Maybe that’s why the saying goes “beauty comes from within.” This is why nutricosmetics, or the use of supplements to help improve skin health, is a growing trend. At the forefront of the nutricosmetic industry is collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein found in animal connective tissue and it can be found in our muscles, bones, skin and tendons. This is why it is the most abundant protein in the body. Collagen can be found in supplements, protein powders, protein bars and even beauty chews. Shop our top selection of collagen products from NeoCell, Reserveage Nutrition, Primal Kitchen, Vital Protein and many more if you’re looking to give your skin and joints a little health boost.

Plant-Based Proteins Powders

Plant-based protein powders were featured in our 2016 trend report and they continue to dominate the market. With new formulas like chia protein, what was once advertised mostly to body builders looking to get “jacked,” is now marketed to triathletes, marathon runners, weekend warriors, vegans, moms, yoga enthusiasts and even business people constantly on-the-go. Plant-based formulas are often hypoallergenic, free of common food irritants making them easier on the stomach. They contain a blend of foods such as pea, quinoa, artichokes, hemp, amaranth and rice. Because of this blend, they contain an excellent variety of amino acids while also delivering quality protein. LuckyVitamin has a large selection of top brands including Plant Fusion, Garden of Life, Aloha, Orgain and much more.